New York, New York

 New York, New York
St. James Theatre
May 7, 2023 

Photo courtesy of New York, New York

Director/choreographer Susan Stroman has outdone herself with the Broadway musical New York, New York.  The production is extraordinary.  Her staging creates the city hustle of the post war era.  It is a city struggling to come back to life, filled with a diverse population of dreamers.  The scenic design by Beowulf Boritt is remarkable.  The book, by David Thompson and Sharon Washington, weaves together numerous stories that build with an amazing crescendo.  John Kander and Fred Ebb’s well known songs open your heart, while the new songs, with lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, keep the story focused and moving forward.  

Anna Uzele & Colton Ryan
Photo courtesy of New York, New York

The main plot is very much like the movie.  Musician Jimmy Doyle (played by Colton Ryan) meets singer Francine Evans (played by Anna Uzele) at an audition.  He is immediately charmed by her, yet his overly confident demeanor turns her off.  Jimmy’s friend, Tommy Caggiano (played by Clyde Alves) encourages him to pursue Francine in a more romantic manner.

The magnetism of the city is illustrated by the numerous characters we see throughout the story.  Jesse Webb (played by John Clay III) is a trombone player who just returned from the war.  Mateo Diaz (played by Angel Sigala) is a percussionist who immigrated to New York from Cuba with his family.  Alex Mann (played by Oliver Prose) is a violinist who escaped from Poland.  He searches the city for Madam Veltri (played by Emily Skinner).  He longs to study violin with her.  She agrees to mentor him, while anxiously waiting for her son to return from the war. 

Clyde Alves, Colton Ryan, & Anna Uzele
Phtoso courtesy of New York, New York

As Francine’s singing career rises, Jimmy’s drinking starts to bring him down.  He gets a chance to manage a club on the upper west side.  This is where all the stories converge, as the characters forge bonds that create opportunities for them all to achieve their dreams. 

Colton Ryan is outstanding as Jimmy Doyle.  He fully embodies the character.  He is suave, bold, and lyrical.  His attraction to Anna Uzele’s Francine is visceral.  You will not be able to take your eye off Ms. Uzele.  She nails the two best known Kander & Ebb songs from the movie.  She makes them her own, both vocally and emotionally.

Photo courtesy of New York, New York

Colton Ryan and Clyde Alves create a genuine friendship between their characters.  Their backstory is strong.  It is filled with conflict and connection.  John Clay II, Janet Dacal, Oliver Prose, Angel Sigala, and Emily Skinner portray truthful and identifiable characters.  They have clearly defined goals and strive toward achieving them with every ounce of their soul.

This creative team has taken the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture and made it new.  It proudly reflects the ability of New Yorkers to bounce back and succeed.  It is an inspiring story for this post-pandemic time.  

Domenick Danza

POTUS

 POTUS
Shubert Theatre
May 26, 2022 

Photo courtesy of Potus

POTUS is a raucous and sidesplitting look at the behind the scenes happening at the White House.  Playwright Selina Fillinger has written an over the top script filled with funny lines, physical comedy, truthful characters, and a hilarious premise.  Director Susan Stroman works this cast of brilliant performers into a frenzy.  The action rises as the stress builds and the laughter culminates to a one line ending that says it all.

During an international meeting, the President of the United States makes a sexist and derogatory remark about his wife, Margaret (played by Vanessa Williams).  Harriet, the President’s Chief of Staff (played by Julie White), and his Press Secretary, Jean (played by Suzy Nakamura), are frantically figuring out how to spin it.  Stephanie, the President’s secretary (played by Rachel Dratch), is trying to prevent Margaret from seeing the president and making the situation worse.  Meanwhile, it is discovered that the president had an affair with a young, blond woman, Dusty (played by Julianne Hough), who is now pregnant with his child.  Harriet invited her to the White House to quiet the incident.  In addition, the President pardoned his sister, Bernadette (played by Lea Delaria), who was serving a prison sentence for international drug dealing.  When a reporter (played by Lilli Cooper), is interviewing the First Lady, she overhears and records the conversations where all this dirty laundry is aired.  Mayhem ensues, as Jean takes Margaret’s phone containing the recordings, and an accident takes place that could put all their necks on the chopping block. 

Julie White & Suzy Nakamura
Photo courtesy of Potus

The fast pace and high energy of the show is set in the opening scene between Julie White and Suzy
Nakamura.  These two skilled actors successfully light the fuse, and everything accelerates from there.  The set, designed by Beowolf Boritt, is on a turn table that quickly spins to reveal various rooms in the White House.  This allows for immediate changes, seamless transitions, and a continual build in the pace and comic timing. 

The Full Cast
Photo courtesy of Potus

The cast is phenomenal.  Julie White is full of vim and vigor.  She is a powerhouse.  Suzy Nakamura is enthralling.  Her character is constantly throwing obstacles, forcing the action to rise.  Vanessa Williams is aggressive and domineering.  Her portrayal of the First Lady is multi-layered and frighteningly truthful.  Rachel Dratch creates a character full of insecurity and very different from the others.  She makes the most out of every moment she is on stage.  Julianne Hough is perky and innocent as the President’s mistress.  She jumps right into the mix of powerful women, and rises to the challenge.  Lea Delaria is a grounding force.  Her character is full of surprises, carrying a bag of tricks on her shoulder from which she pulls out every imaginable prop needed for each sticky situation. 

As funny as this play is, it packs a thoughtful and provocative wallop at the end.  Go see it!  It is everything you could imagine from this magnificent cast. 

Domenick Danza

The Beast in the Jungle

The Beast in the Jungle

Vineyard Theatre

June 15, 2018

Photo courtesy of Vineyard Theatre

The Beast in the Jungle, with music by John Kander and book by David Thompson, is now running at Vineyard Theatre.  Inspired by the Henry James novella, this “dance play” tells the romantic and tragic story of the missed opportunities for love.  Director/Choreographer Susan Stroman skillfully weaves realistic narrative with ballet and stylized movement to emotionally engage the audience in this dark tale.

John Marcher (played by Peter Friedman) advises his nephew (played by Tony Yazbeck) that if he truly loves his girlfriend, who just broke up with him because he cannot commit, he needs to run back to her, get on his knees, and ask her to marry him.  John Marcher tells his nephew the story of when he met May Bertram (played by Irina Dvorovenko) in Naples, and fell instantly in love with her.  It was the beast within him that compelled him to run from her as the mutuality of their feelings began to flourish.  This beast reared its ugly head again when they met by chance twenty years later.  It is not until sharing his story with his nephew that John faces his inner demons and is able to release them.

Irina Dvorovenko & Tony Yazbeck
Photo courtesy of Vineyard Theatre

Peter Friedman beautifully takes the audience through John Marcher’s story, facing the truth in the climax of the play.  Tony Yazbeck plays the young John Marcher as the story of his early years is told through dance.  Mr. Yazbeck is vulnerable and charming in this role.  His physical characterization and dance skills are strong and charismatic.  His transformation superbly reflects Mr. Friedman’s character.  Irina Dvorovenko is a beautiful match to Mr. Yazbeck.  She is an amazing dancer.  They connect and build a genuine relationship that carries the action of the story forward.

Photo courtesy of Vineyard Theatre

Susan Stroman uses an ensemble of six women to play numerous roles and create the setting and atmosphere of a beach in Italy, and English garden, and a New York City art gallery.  These six phenomenal dancers appear out of the darkness and create smooth transitions throughout the show.  They create the “beast” with a few simple and well-choreographed effects that evoke powerful images representing the main character’s deep-seeded fear.

John Kander’s score is lush and romantic.  Ms. Stroman’s choreography utilizes his rhythms and enhances the passionate swell in his score.  The Beast in the Jungle has been extended at Vineyard Theatre through June 24.  It is beautiful storytelling. 

Domenick Danza

Prince of Broadway

Prince of Broadway

The Samuel J. Friedman Theatre

Manhattan Theatre Club

August 8, 2017

 

Photo courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club

Prince of Broadway is presently in previews at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.  Produced by Manhattan Theatre Club and under the direction of Hal Prince himself, the show celebrates his career and highlights some of the most memorable moments in Broadway musical history.  Susan Stroman collaborates as co-director and choreographer doing what she does best, making this a cohesive piece of theatre.  The cast of nine of heavy hitting performers (Chuck Cooper, Janet Dacal, Bryonha Marie Parham, Emily Skinner, Brandon Uranowitz, Kaley Ann Voorhees, Michael Zavier, Tony Yazbeck, and Karen Ziemba) left me wanting more.

Hal Prince started his career working for free in the office of director George Abbott in the late 1940s.  He stage managed, directed, and/or produced some of the most well know Broadway musicals.  The Pajama Game, Damn Yankees, She loves Me, West Side Story, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Merrily We Roll Along, Parade, and Phantom of the Opera, to name a few.  He has worked with the top directors, choreographers, composers, lyricists, book writers, and performers ever known.  The nine cast members all tell his story, wearing his trademark look, glasses on top of his head, when they are speaking his words.

The cast of Prince of Broadway
Photo courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club

The Follies sequence is intense and mesmerizing.  The two selections from A Little Night Music are biting and emotional.  The Act II opening of three songs from Company pulls you into the questioning/rebellion mindset of the time period.  The Evita section is powerful.  The Sweeney Todd scenes are haunting.

The highlight of Act I is Karen Ziemba’s rendition of “Who Cares” from Cabaret.  The Act I finale of “Cabaret” sung by Bryonha Marie Parham is stunning.  Chuck Cooper delivers an invigorating “If I Were a Rich Man” from Fiddler on the Roof, then later pulls you into the rolling rhythm of “Ol’ Man River” from Mr. Prince’s Showboat revival.  Ms. Stroman’s choreography for “The Right Girl’ from Follies masterfully depicts the inner conflict of Buddy's character.  Tony Yazbeck delivers it to perfection.

Photo courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club

The scenic design by Beowulf Boritt and lighting design by Howell Binkley are brilliant and effective.  They create strong impressions and vivid images that exemplify the complete settings and overall mood of each varied segment.  They keep the flow seamlessly moving from one moment to the next. 

From the insert in the program you can see they are tweaking and refining, but no matter what they do, this show is a wondrous look at the legendary body of work of a Broadway icon.  Prince of Broadway is scheduled to open on August 24.  It is on TDF during previews.  Get a ticket right away!

  

Domenick Danza